The National tribune., 1887-12-08
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY DECEMBER 1887

stinctively that they were succoring a friend.
and at very great risk TO themselves; so, 20 re-
lieve them OF any fear for their own safety
should their action be discovered. / told them
the old story about being lost on the road, etc.
The old man. who had been watching out Of
the doorway as / ate my breakfast at their
hearth, observed, knowingly:
The Masters folks isn't out Of bed yet, but
/ 'spects dem sOScrs will want dey hosses. so
Use gwine along 10 De barn % feed em. Liza"
The hint was sufficient; and % my hurried
inquiry. Are there any cavalrymen at the
house7"
"Yes, deed; dahs a whole company sleepin'
on de front poaeh over dar."
How long have they been here2" said ],
putting down my cup.
Dey comes hyar most every night and
sleeps on dat poach tel they get over breakfast"
That was sufficient; had lost al pain in my
arm my hunger had been satisfied with less
than half a breakfast, and hastily thanking
the old aunty. made an excuse about not
wanting them to know / was out of camp, and
left by the shortest cut for the woods.
was up TO my pursuers, and had left them
| asleep on the porch awaiting their breakfast !;
iswould give me an hours start of them, and
gathered renewed courage from the belief that
they would return from that point.
While / had intended only going to the
| kitchen. / am fully convinced that but for the
dogs attack / should have gone myself around
by the porch; as il was, they drove me to the
other side in a direction farthest from them
and safe from capture.
All that morning 1 struggled along through
| the dreary, desolate woods, skirting the roads
| and avoiding houses, suffering with my wound
| ed foot, wrist and arm; but fortunately the
houses were not many, which allowed of my
| using the road more freely. 1t was along about
noon, L think, when got to the edge of the
hill at
THE OLD TOWN OF FALMOUTH.
Here was an obstruction in the shape of the
| Rappahannock River, which had to be crossed
| by ferry into Fredericksburg. Of course
everybody who crossed there would be scrutin-
lied closely, so that their identity could be
| traced if necessary.
1t may be asked why did not attempt to
reach the Potomac from this place. / don't
know exactly, except that perhaps was be-
ing impelled by some mysterious power to go
| to Richmond.
The Potomac was only about 10 or 12 miles
distant, but it was also four or FIVE miles in
| width, and the rebels controlled all the means
| OF communication across to Maryland. Rich
mond was 40 miles distant, and q railroad ran
| there from fredericksburg
Luckily for my purpose drove Of horses be-
| ing steered by two colored men appeared Just
then at the top Of the hill leading into Fal-
1
the drivers to be allowed to ride a spare horse
over the ford. He consented, and in this way
| we crossed the Rappahannoek and entered
| fredericksburg in August, 1861.
You will please make q note OF this because
we will get back to fredericksburg again,
| where occurred some Of my adventures that
are more surprising and agreeably romantic
than the experiences have been trying TO TO
| late.
had intended TO stop at Fredericksburg and
run the gantlet Of the railway to Richmond,
but found myself so comfortable on the bare
back OF horse that concluded to stay with
the drove the balance Of the day; 80 we passed
right through the town and on down the main
| road to Richmond
felt reasonably safe from pursuit; blood
| hounds would not be able to track me across
q ford, as might have been tried when my
presence at the colored shanty should become
| known.
The old uncle told me that the dog that BIZ
mo was a young bloodhound and that the pro-
prietor of the house kept q pack. and suspect
ed that the object Of the officers in visiting
him was to secure their use. But in getting
onto horse and crossing the river had eluded
their scent, and felt safe enough from further
danger in that direction. 1t was also fortu.
nate for me that was further able to disguiss
myself By travelling the road in charge Of q
couple of colored men and drove of horse:
that were being sent to Richmond for the army
That evening, without further adventure OF
trouble except that began to suffer from my
foot and arm, we reached an old fashioned, out
of-the-way stopping-place called Hanover
Courthouse, where the colored boys had beer
ordered to keep the horses over night.
They found entertainment in the quarters
I was received into the house as q wounded
rebel soldier en- route to Richmond. and treat
ed in frst-class shape by the old landlord anC
his jolly, fat wife.
had new story for them that took rea
weu, and i was furnished warm water for dress
ing my wounds. A clean shirt was presented
me, and for the first time in many days slep
like Christian.
4 h,